Talk the Walk

We have all been told that leaders walk the talk. And we know the importance of practicing what we preach, but how important is it for a leader to be able to explain in words his/her actions and why they matter?

In his Harvard Business Review Blog, Bill Taylor states that leaders think differently about their work and invariably talk about it differently. Taylor says that leaders must "be able to explain, in language that is unique to their field and compelling to their colleagues and customers, why what they do matters and how they expect to win."

I have observed leaders who do the right things but never verbalize the why or how of those actions. Successful leaders not only consistently take correct actions, they also constantly explain why those actions are important and how they will help achieve organizational goals.

Many factors contribute to the success of an organization, and it is difficult to assign individual value to these. But Taylor in discussing success states "that behind it all is a language system that defines life inside the organization and reminds everyone what really drives success."

As you lead, do you model for your colleagues by walking the talk? If you do, that is a good start, but if you want your organization or unit to achieve at consistently high levels, you must develop a vocabulary that helps everyone on your team understand what makes our team unique and how we are going to achieve at high levels. Our words are critically important in leading.

The Best Leaders Talk the Walk by Bill Taylor in HBR Blog Network, August 7, 2014.